Mr. Ian Strachan also recalls JG warmly.

And for my location & generation he's still done the most out of all of us.

Who else here has the pic of JG from FHM in full tilt Seersucker?

It's not remotely 'Trad', but it would make a 'Trad' weep to see such Ivy perfection on such a (be honest) good looking young man in his 20s back in the '80s.

I claim John for London, but know I have to share him with Everton FC & Italy.

He's an inspiration.

And now an Ivy author.

Quite the Cat!

NV got the stogie.  Did no-one get the wordplay?

The character is nameless in the novel but became Harry Palmer in the films.  I rather like some of his later books, like 'Bomber'.

Oh RR&P - I have long adored that piece from The Ipcress File and kind of incorporated it into my subconscious levels of influence. I do often walk up Charlotte Street towards Soho and wish the old delis were still there. Thankfully we still have Lina Stores and I Camisa in Soho, and many others dotted throughout London. Gallo Nero II where I live in N16, run by the stylish and knowledgeable Signor Michele Mori, is where I get my grappa fix. Never flirted with him though. Not knowingly.

g.g.

Just wondering if it might be an old Hanes...

The new Hartford offerings look pretty uninspiring to my eyes.  As if they've had a little think and tried to come up with something 'cutting edge' for the trendy shops that draw in the trendy punters.  I do like that pocket polo, though; also the sound of a pocket t.  Next week, flying to Brittany, I shall be relying upon the flap-pocket Press very kindly given to me by our good friend eris.

Gibson is alive and well. His two very small children are now 17 and 14, and he makes less trips to Italian delis to buy grappa though he does still get his coffee from the Algerian Coffee Stores in Old Compton Street. This morning he was in Marylebone where he paid a visit to Ivy HQ on what is now a rather absurdly high end Chiltern Street. JS appears rarely these days but Gibson enjoyed a chat with PS and treated himself to a pair of those Japanese bedford cords in off-white. He almost bought a Vetra corduroy Ivy suit but then images of his hungry children and his sickly partner came into his head and he couldn't blow £500 on more of the same.

Gibson would love a restaurant like that, sounds marvellous. Ricard - bravo! Reminds me of the old basement in the Amalfi (RIP) on Old Compton Street - all rickety mid century Italian furniture and wallpaper that consisted of copies of Corriere Della Sera and Gazzetta Dello Sport plastered to the walls.